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Big Lap
  • Esoteric Adventures
  • Amanda Jones
  • Esoteric Adventures
  • Amanda Jones

Big Lap

One year off to travel this big sun burnt land Read more
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    Cradock, Hawker and Parachilna

    May 17, 2025 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    Eventful day driving from Cradock where we stayed behind the local pub.

    Drove through Hawker and found some nice coffee. We then pushed onto Parachilna in the Flinders Ranges. (Stunning)
    Plan was to free camp near the Parachilna gorge. The rocks and rough roads had other ideas.

    We snapped off the pipe for our water tank and lost 140litres of water. We ended up driving to town and camp two doors up from the Prairie pub (damn).

    The Prairie Pub has the most amazing food and houses a craft brewery.

    All in all a great day    Read more

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    The Prairie Hotel - Parachilna SA

    May 18, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    What a unique feast!! The Feral Feast was delicious.

    Highly recommend a visit to this Pub. They have a small craft brewery on site, fabulous Australian fare and an all South Australian wine list.

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    Farina bakery South Australia

    May 24, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    We are in Farina South Australia, which is a ghost town that has been partly restored by volunteers. Once a year, they open the bakery, which was established in 1888. The unique feature of the bakery is the 137 year old scotch wood fired oven which is under ground.
    We are here on the opening day (thanks Glen and Steph for the heads up). The bakery is run by volunteers is only open 8 weeks of the year.
    We went a bit crazy and bought so many baked goods.    Read more

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    Oodnadatta Track

    May 25, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Farina to William Creek on the Oodnadatta track.
    Had the best time in Farina. Great campsite, history and awesome bakery.
    Filled up our water in Marree and started our journey along the Oodnadatta track.

    What a rough ride for 4 hours (200km). Had a bit of damage to the van and a heap of dust.    Read more

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    Busted but not broken

    May 26, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    What a day. The road from William Creek to Coober Pedy was shockingly corrugated and full of rocks.
    We blew a tyre on the caravan which ended up breaking the suspension.
    We were towed 15kms to Coober Pedy and now waiting for insurance company...Read more

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    Alice, Alice who the Fk is Alice

    May 30, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    So when you get lemons, make lemonade is the old saying! Whilst we never planned for a 3 week stay its not too bad. Good Coffee, Macdonnell Ranges, Alice Springs Brewery, and did I mention the Finke Motorcross and 4wd race is on next weekend. There is even an AFL game on tomorrow!Read more

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    Sunday in Alice Springs

    June 8, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Here for a month, so slowly doing and seeing fun things.
    We’ve been fortunate in some ways as we may have never seen so much of the area. Our initial plan was to stay only 2 nights. Such a surprising place.Read more

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    Alice so far

    Jun 8–20, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    We’ve been in Alice for 12 nights so far waiting for a part to repair the caravan so we can get back on the road.
    We’ve been exploring Alice and have found really good coffee, nice beer and a variety of things to do.
    Lucky to be here during the Finke Desert Race and we’ve attended two events
    We visited the Araluen art gallery to see the 2024 Archibald’s and there is much so much more to explore. Lucky we’ll be here at least another week.
    The West Macdonnell Ranges are next on list to explore.    Read more

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    Final days in Alice

    June 15, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    This weekend we visited Ellery Creek Big Hole in West Macdonnell Ranges. Did the Dolomite walk, which is part of Larapinta trail,
    We had the dogs looked after by a mad paws dog sitter.

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    More of our final weekend Alice Springs

    June 15, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    We’ve been making the most of everything Alice Springs and the surrounds has to offer. This will be our last weekend here. We’re hoping to be back on the road by Wednesday or Thursday.
    Yesterday we visited the Alice Springs Telegraph station which was part of the old telegraph line completed in 1871. It was also where the first children of the stolen generation were housed and educated. Really interesting place and well restored.
    Today the puppies were looked after while we went back to the West Macdonnell Ranges. We visited Ellery Creek waterhole (Andrew posted this), did the Dolomite walk and then visited Standley Chasm.
    Standley Chasm is owned and managed by the Local Arrernte people. Stunning space and the cafe was really good too.    Read more

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    Tomorrows weather

    June 20, 2025 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

    Back on the road after waiting for repairs. Caravan still a bit bruised and battered after the Oodnadata track. But we're rolling again. Look at tomorrows weather in Daly Waters, how exciting!

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    Alice Springs to Daly Waters

    Jun 21–22, 2025 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 19 °C

    On the road again. Left Alice Springs and drove to Devils Marbles Hotel for the night. Stopped on the way at Aileron which has some giant aboriginal sculptures.
    Next day travelled to the historic and iconic Daly Waters Hotel for a night. What an experience!!
    Side note - food amazing at both overnight locations.    Read more

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    Lake Argyle

    Jun 25–28, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    This is a must visit destination in the East Kimberley’s. Stunning!!
    Gorgeous location, awesome campground and pool.
    The sunset cruise is a must do we saw so much wildlife and had a dip in the lake which was much warmer than the pool, fabulous sunset to top it off.
    So many cute puppies and a good number of squishy faced doggos.
    Peach and Pablo would also highly rate this destination.    Read more

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    The Infamous Gibb River Road

    June 30, 2025 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 23 °C

    Nope not doing it, seen enough busted cars and caravans coming back. Plus we are not dust proof (yet). On our way to El Questro Station .

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    Zebedee thermal springs
    Zebedee thermal springsPigeonhole lookoutThe Durack treeExplosion gorge

    El Questro day 1

    July 1, 2025 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    Awesome day at El Questro. Morning dip and soak at Zebedee springs. So warm at 32 degrees.
    We completed some great 4WD tracks as including Pigeon lookout and Explosion gorge.
    Awesome day with dinner at the Steakhouse. Such a great day.Read more

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    El Questro day 2 - Emma Gorge

    July 2, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Great walk to Emma Gorge today. Pretty challenging with quite a bit of rock scrambling. Very worth the effort.
    Refreshing swim our reward.

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    Mimbi Caves in the Kimberly's

    July 5, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Stopped overnight at Mimbi Caves. It’s part of an Aboriginal run station. Very pretty place. Our door is Still not working and we’re having to climb in and out of the window.
    Last night we caught up with Steff and Glen at Bungle Bungles caravan park. It was so nice to catch up with them again.Read more

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    Derby

    Jul 6–8, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    We spent 2 nights in Derby. Nice place although we arrived on a Sunday so not much happening on either day. We explored the jetty which looks so tall during low tide as the tides in this part of WA are up to 12 metres.
    Took our dogs for a walk and tested out their muzzles to protect them from 1080 baits. I clearly put Peaches on the wrong way.
    We also walked around some sculptures along the sandy tidal flats. The artist, Mark Norval, is an outstanding Kimberley artist who works very closely with the local aboriginal people.
    His gallery has a fabulous cafe attached so enjoyed their coffee while viewing the gallery.
    Such a nice little town.

    PS. Check out our ladder to get in our window now our door won’t open.    Read more